India’s 1948 hockey gold medal

In 1948, London hosted the first Olympic Games after World War Two, but when it came to the hockey final, it was newly independent India who won gold, beating Great Britain.

In 2014, Ashley Byrne spoke to one of the stars of the Indian team, Balbir Singh, about the victory at what became known as the ‘Austerity Games’.

Singh died in 2020.

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(Photo: India's centre forward Balbir Singh tries to score a goal during the men's Olympic Games Hockey match. Credit: Associated Press)